Recently, my friend had invited 2 of us to go with him to a GM Test Drive, where they had almost all of the models, including their competitors in a huge parking lot set up with cones to outline several "race" tracks. I thought that it was done very well, and the people impressed me with their knowledge. We got to drive any car we wanted as many times as possible, (as aggressively as we wanted without damaging anything also) with the exception of the Corvette, the SSR, and the H2, which we could only drive once. I have a new respect for those 3 in particular, but especially the H2, with dirt on it, not chrome rims.

Anyways, on the SSR and Corvette tracks, they didn't let us pound them...they ENCOURAGED us. In a straightaway that my Bronco would've hit 25 in, I got the Vette to 65-70mph, plunged into a hairpin, and smashed the gas again. Everyone did this, for 12 hours a day all weekend long. All of the crew traveled from location to location and when I asked if it was difficult to transport all of the cars too, he said no. All of the cars they get, they get from local dealer's lots he told me, and then they go back to the lot when the test drive leaves town. What?!?!

Suppose I go down to buy a pre-owned corvette, and there's obviously miles on it, how do I know if a retired marine with a thing for babying corvettes put those miles on carefully, or if a kid who just got his license and can't drive stick was one of the people in that car during a test drive weekend like this? It really concerned me, as I am going to be a pre-owned buyer soon. Like I said, we could drive as many cars as aggressively as we liked, just so long as no one got hurt, and as many times as we wanted. I personally drove the GTO six times, and pounded it everytime. Even the Caddy's got abused, and all were manhandled by people waiting in line for their turn to hit the track. What's the deal with this? I've never seen it before, and frankly, I know for a fact that if I were to pickup a GM, I wouldn't do it with any dealer within 200 miles of that Test Drive. What's the deal here?

no GM vs. Ford here please (I know it goes without saying), but just an explanation.

 

These are not "used" cars by the strict LEGAL definition, in that they've never been titled. Theymay be sold off as demonstrators, which means they still qualify for rebates and incentives. Once they've been titled, they're considered used. If they're sold as demonstrators, then that's all they have to disclose; how they've been driven isn't figured into the picture.

 

ok, just curious...it kind of freaked me out though, because I know how I drove these things, and saw how others did, and if I knew that at the dealership, there is no way I'd buy it. But...it's still the answer I was looking for. Thank you